While Fletcher's service in the Marines and his combat experience overseas would seem to make him an easy choice for veterans, Faulconer's supporters say they value the city councilman's leadership and experience as an elected official.

"In the city of San Diego, now is the time to have a leader who’s been there, who has been doing it now for two terms," said Assemblyman Rocky Chavez, R-Oceanside, a Marine Corps veteran who appeared at a news conference with the USS Midway as a backdrop. "He's not a man who just says, 'I think I have a vision.' He’s not an individual who just got elected and thinks he can do something. We have a leader who for seven years has been dealing with the hard issues of public safety, bringing jobs, of ensuring that the streets are taken care of."

Faulconer, a Republican, and Fletcher, a former Republican turned Democrat, are running in a special election Nov. 19 to replace former Mayor Bob Filner, who resigned in August following numerous allegations of sexual misconduct. Other major candidates making a bid for mayor are City Councilman David Alvarez and former City Attorney Mike Aguirre, both Democrats.

If elected mayor, Faulconer said he plans to place a high priority on assistance for veterans and will pursue a "boots to badges" program aimed at recruiting vets to serve on the city's police force.

“San Diego is a military town. Our returning veterans, their families and the military community at large deserve our utmost attention," he said. "Having never served, I rely on the knowledge and expertise of military advisers. When I’m elected mayor, I will form a Military Advisory Council and ask these exceptional leaders to join this council, which will work with me to ensure the city of San Diego is doing all it can to assist our veterans and returning heroes."

Retired Vice Admiral Peter M. Hekman, a 45-year U.S. Navy veteran, said he formerly supported Fletcher when he ran for mayor in 2012 but later lost faith in him when the former state assemblyman became an independent after failing to secure the Republican party's backing in that race.

At his news conference last week to introduce veterans supporting him, Fletcher, an executive at Qualcomm, made the point that party affiliation was a non-issue when he served in the Marines.